Elected officials attending the 40th annual SOMOS Conference which took place Nov. 4-7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico., focused on the Latino community in New York State, while spotlighting issues impacting Puerto Ricans in particular. But for their Day of Service on Nov. 6, the officials along with attendees participated in numerous community events throughout the island.
”We’re building bridges between New York and Puerto Rico every way we can,” said Governor Kathy Hochul at a local press gaggle.
Hochul and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with local officials and advocates while in San Juan.
“We talked about the needs of this community, particularly in light of a historic drought, but also the ongoing challenges with the resiliency of the grid and the delivery of water, etc. So, we found some ideas. I’ve already told my team we were going to be delivering even more, so stay tuned,” said Hochul.
Mamdani announced that he was firmly against the Esencia Project (Proyecto Esencia), a $2 billion luxury mega-development in Cabo Rojo. Locals believe the project will displace native Puerto Ricans and destroy natural resources, especially because of ongoing drought. The project is estimated to consume at least 1.5 million gallons of water daily during construction.
“New York is home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the world. What happens on the island is felt in our neighborhoods, our homes and our families in New York,” said Mamdani. “The people of Puerto Rico are not disposable. Their land and resources are not commodities for the highest bidder. Puerto Rico no se vende — and neither does New York.”
Senator Jamaal Bailey (center) with YMCA San Juan staff on Nov. 6. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
SOMOS volunteers and YMCA staff distribute food bags and jugs of water in San Juan on Nov. 6. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Volunteer puts food into recipient’s car. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Assemblymember Jordan Wright and staffers get ready to play in the YMCA basketball tournament on Nov. 6 in PR. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
enators Jamaal Bailey and Zellnor Myrie, Assemblymembers Khaleel Anderson and Jordan Wright at the start of the basketball tournament on Friday, Nov. 6. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
SOMOS volunteers offload a truck with donated water, wheelchairs, and medical supplies. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
SOMOS volunteers offload a truck with donated water, wheelchairs, and medical supplies on Nov. 6 in PR. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
SOMOS volunteers and YMCA staff offload a truck with donated water, wheelchairs, and medical supplies on Nov. 6 in PR. (Ariama C. Long photos) 
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out against the Esencia Project at the Labor Breakfast at the SOMOS conference on Nov. 7 in PR. (Ariama C. Long photos)
On The Ground in San Juan
“The YMCA invested in my community when we didn’t have anywhere to play. We’d have to go to Westchester or the South Bronx,” said State Sen. Jamaal Bailey at one of the Day of Service events, “I’m happy to give back.”
Bailey, an avid basketball fan, led the conference’s “3v3” basketball tournament at the YMCA of San Juan. Other elected officials that participated included Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assemblymembers Khaleel Anderson and Jordan Wright, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso –– whose team made it to the finals. The tournament is a “friendly” competition between elected officials, sponsors, and community partners to raise funds for the Somos Hoops for Hope team.
As the game went on, volunteers spent the day providing families with over 150 bags of free food, filled with eggs, chicken, cereal, juice, and about 100 gallons of water. They also handed essentials for the disabled and the elderly, like medical supplies, adult diapers, walkers, canes, wheelchairs, and commodes.
“Last year, we had the water crisis. So this year we doubled the water handouts,” said Michael Rivadeneyra, the Vice President for Government Relations for YMCA of Greater New York “Poultry is doubly more expensive here so we also wanted to include meat in the baskets.”
He suggested that the spike in meat prices and goods could be because of the 1920 Jones Act, which requires all goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported by U.S. vessels. In addition to battling food insecurity and the water crisis, Rivadeneyra said that the YMCA has been educating communities about taking the Census in 2030.
He said it can be difficult when people have been warned about opening doors for ICE agents, so the focus has been on how to identify Census enumerators.
“We heard about stories of people who don’t want to leave their homes out of fear of ICE here in Puerto Rico; those are the same stories we hear in New York City,” said Mamdani, who criticized ICE at several events in San Juan. “And one of the reasons I’m so opposed to ICE’s immigration enforcement actions is because they do nothing to contribute towards that safety. In fact, they threaten that safety.”
